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Football NSW Institute Coaches announced for 2022 season

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Football NSW Institute’s 2022 Coaching staff has been announced for the upcoming National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s season.

With players set to commence pre-season on Monday 18th of October with a Home Training Program and online sessions until a formal decision has been made on when the sport can return to the pitches, coaches from the Under 13’s age group up to the Under 18’s will be looking forward to working with their respective groups following a tough year due to the cancelled season.

The Football NSW Institute program will once again be closely managed by Player Development Manager for the Girls Nadine Shiels and will be overseen by the state governing body’s Technical Director Warren Grieve.

“After a challenging 2021 with much disruption and the eventual cancellation of the season, 2022 will be one to look forward to,” said Grieve.

“After a lengthy review and appointment process, we are pleased to confirm the Football NSW Institute coaching team.

“With some excellent returning coaches and some new faces, we are extremely happy with the appointments, ensuring individual player development is at the forefront of our approach to the 2022 season.”

One new face that will take charge of the Under 18’s team is former NSW Sapphires star Lisa Warrener. Having played at the top level of football in NSW as well as being involved with various female development programs for the last twenty seasons, the A-Licensed coach is eagerly anticipating her coaching journey with the Institute.

There is one coaching vacancy however as the search continues for an Under 14’s coach.
Applications for this vacant coaching position can be found here.

2022 Football NSW Institute Coaching Staff

Head Coach       Assistant Coach

Under 13            Bronwyn Kiceec Tom Milicevic

Under 14            (Vacant)              Sam McGowan

Under 15            Vic Guzman       Tony Lo

Under 16            Dan Barrett        Greg Hartge

Under 17            Jaime Gomez     Greg Kokoviades

Under 18            Lisa Warrener   Nadine Shiels

Support Coach   Ellie Brush

GK Coach            Jackson Franich

S&C Coach          Dora Kelaiditis

Anthony Guido appointed as Illawarra Stingrays head coach

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National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s club Illawarra Stingrays have appointed Anthony Guido as its new Head Coach for the 2022 season.

The 44-year-old played in the NSL for the Wollongong Wolves as well as winning a scholarship as an 18-year-old with Ipswich Town before playing fifteen years in the Illawarra Premier League where he took out 4 Premierships, 4 Championships as well as winning 3 Golden Boot awards.

Guido was the Head Coach of the club’s Under 17’s squad this year but was also the assistant coach at Wollongong Olympic from 2016 till this season.

“Anthony will bring passion, high energy, a winning spirit and fitness focus,” the Stingrays stated in their official press release.

“He has excellent game management skills that come from playing at high levels himself.

“Anthony has a very professional approach and is genuinely invested in the players, their pathways and careers.”

The Stingrays also announced that Troy Spink has taken over as the club’s new Technical Director.

The former Macarthur Rams TD and ex-Bankstown City Lions Head Coach and TD has taken over Alan Sheldrick who has been with the South Coast club for many years.

While finally the club also announced Elyse Finlayson as the new Reserve Grade coach for the 2022 season.

The former Stingrays footballer is looking forward to giving back to the club she spent many memorable years at as a coach in search of more rising young female talents in the South Coast area.

Olympic Games Dream for Nevin

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It was a dream come true for one of Western Sydney’s rising young female football stars Courtney Nevin who took in all the sights and sounds of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with the Matildas in her stride.

The 19-year-old wore the Green and Gold kit with pride as she played thirty plus minutes in the Bronze medal match that unfortunately went the United States of America’s way.

“It was definitely an experience I will never forget, running out onto that pitch taking on the U.S.A. and lining up against an idol of mine, Alex Morgan is something that will live with me forever.”

Asked if the young gun was stunned to see Canada lift the Gold Medal, Nevin was a little shocked.

“I was definitely shocked to see Canada win Gold but good on them as they worked extremely hard to get it and they did have a quality squad.”

It was one of the many significant moments for the young former Blacktown Spartans star who took in each and every magical moment.

“There were so many quality moments, just being part of such an amazing squad at the Olympic Village was also something I will never forget.

“The Village itself was one of my favourite places to stay during the two months I was away from home.

“I know we only got to stay there for a week, but it was something else, being around top athletes from around the world and just spotting them all walking around was pretty cool.”

As expected, COVID restrictions and protocols were top of the list as the Matildas along with every other athlete and team followed to a tee.

“It was definitely high on everyone’s list, we’d have to do a COVID test each and every morning before breakfast, we wore makes each time we left our hotel rooms, wore gloves while serving ourselves food as well as social distancing with the 1.5 metre ruling.”

Currently in quarantine following her Matildas journey, the Olympian stated that she’s eagerly anticipating the up-and-coming W-League season with the Wanderers but has set her sights on hopefully playing abroad.

“I am firmly focused on the upcoming W-League season, and I do have dreams of playing overseas also following my commitments here.”

The former Football NSW Institute graduate did state that she’d look at playing in the National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s competition once more should a deal overseas not eventuate.

Nevin finished up with seven appearances with the Blacktown Spartans as she linked up with yet another fellow Olympian Kyra Cooney-Cross in the 2021 NPL NSW Women’s competition.

Eye-opening experience for Olympian Kyra Cooney-Cross

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What a magical few months it’s been for Matilda and proud Australian Olympian Kyra Cooney-Cross.

After finishing her W-League season with the Melbourne Victory, the ace midfielder joined the Blacktown Spartans and played five matches in the National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s top tier competition before being summoned on international duty representing the Green and Gold at the recent Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Currently back in Sydney where the 19-year-old is undertaking the mandatory quarantine following her unforgettable trip to Japan, Cooney-Cross was overawed by the amazing experiences she shared whilst representing her country.

“I had an amazing experience, just being part of the Olympic Games on a whole is something I will never forget.

“I would have to say that my most memorable moments in Tokyo were seeing the Girls beat Great Britain to get into the Semi-Finals and make history.

“Along with that, getting onto that pitch against the U.S.A and getting to see and play against Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe in person was unbelievable.

“I also cannot go past my official Olympics debut against New Zealand in match one as well as the experience of living in the Olympic Village with so many other high-quality athletes.”

Speaking of which, the former Spartans star had the pleasure of seeing a handful of world superstars during her stay at the Olympic Village.

“I really enjoyed being at the Village – it definitely was a really cool experience being around other athletes every day and experiencing what the Olympic Village life was like.

“I saw a handful of stars such as Ash Barty, Sam Stosur, Nyjah Huston, Patty Mills, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Naomi Osaka to name a few.”

As expected, tight restrictions, social distancing, and a whole lot of COVID safe protocols were put in place for each athlete to adhere to in keeping the virus at bay.

“It was definitely at a high level.

“When we were staying at hotels prior to the Village it was pretty strict, we were only allowed outside if we were either going to train or play our warm-up matches so most of the time we were stuck inside.

“We had COVID tests conducted daily, we ate the same foods for weeks, we wore masks everywhere and had to be 1.5m apart.

“We still had strict rules when we entered the Village but we made the most of being outside in the sun while we had some fantastic food options in the dining hall.”

Coming on and playing as a substitute in each of the Matildas’ six matches was a great achievement by the Queenslander who has now earmarked the new W-League season as the next big priority in her football journey before hopefully heading overseas in search of a professional contract.

“I am doing one more W-League season with the Melbourne Victory as I am still under contract and once that’s done, I am certainly thinking of heading overseas.”

U.S. Dream move for Kraszula

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Former Football NSW Institute and Northern Tigers young gun defender Greta Kraszula will call Richmond Virginia home as the 19-year-old recently scored herself an exciting 4-year scholarship at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Coming through the player development system in NSW and gaining valuable experience in the National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s top tier competition, Kraszula won her scholarship thanks to the assistance of her school Loreto Normanhurst as well as the Player Pathway USA process.

“I had heard about student/athletes pursuing their goals in the U.S. and was always encouraged through my high-school Loreto Normanhurst to balance football and education. This led to starting my recruitment process with Player Pathway USA. They were unbelievable in supporting and guiding me through the process, which predominantly was through contacting coaches with game footage and academic transcripts.

“This ultimately resulted in a 4-year scholarship at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), in Richmond Virginia.

“I chose VCU as it opened up the opportunity to pursue both academics and football in a competitive environment and at the highest level in the NCAA Division 1.

“I am very excited to begin my journey at VCU. I believe it’s so important to be pushed out of your comfort zone, and I am confident this experience will allow me to grow as a person and player.”

With the world coping with COVID, Kraszula eventually made her way to the States following various strict protocols before kicking off pre-season with her new club on Monday.

“In terms of travel to the U.S. after receiving my travel exemption, vaccination and COVID test, I was allowed to leave for the pursuit of study with a student visa. Masks were mandatory on all flights, and after arriving the restrictions are limited if you have been vaccinated.

“Pre-season officially kicked off on Monday, with classes commencing on the 24th.

“Currently, I am one of five internationals in the VCU Women’s Soccer squad and I am amazed at the facilities and resources available to student-athletes.

“Competing in the Atlantic 10 Conference, our first official game is on August 19th against James Madison University.”

Coming through the ranks in Sydney, Kraszula enjoyed her time coming through the ranks, highlighting her selection into last year’s inaugural NSW Senior State Team squad that took part in the 2020 State Of Origin clash against Queensland as a major achievement amongst many others.

“My time at the Football NSW Institute was invaluable as I was exposed to many opportunities to develop as a player, through various NTC tournaments and Future Matildas trainings. The constant challenge each week of coming up against older and more experienced players definitely pushed my player development.

“Transitioning to the Northern Tigers in First Grade was seamless and formed some of my most enjoyable football memories.

“The Northern Tigers team culture is hardworking, supportive, and positive and I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of the team. I am hoping that they can get back on the pitch soon and take out the 2021 Premiership.

“I was also very grateful for the opportunity to play defensive midfielder for NSW last year in the state squad, and to play alongside some of the best NPL players and coaches in NSW. It definitely showed the incredible amount of depth in Australian women’s football and I look forward to this state rivalry becoming a regular event on the football calendar.”

Ear marked as a future Matildas star, the former Institute skipper and Futsal star, like many of us, has been watching the progress of our Women’s team doing the nation proud at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Now based in the States and with the Bronze medal match scheduled for Thursday, Kraszula is hoping that the Matildas can spring the major upset to ignite the banter with her new U.S. teammates.

“It has been inspiring to watch the Matildas in the Olympics and to see the growing support for female football in Australia has been fantastic.

“I can’t wait for the Matildas to take on the U.S. – a win and bronze medal will definitely mean bragging rights with my new team.”

Greta joins a long list of young promising Australian female footballers hoping to further their careers abroad, flying the Aussie flag proudly as well as promoting what fantastic talent NSW has to the rest of the world.